ORLANDO, Fla. -- Despite a 30-point double-double from Paolo Banchero, the Orlando Magic fell 132-125 to the Atlanta Hawks in their regular-season opener on Wednesday at the Kia Center, marking their first game under new coach Sean Sweeney.
Banchero finished with 35 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds, while Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. each scored 22 points and Desmond Bane added 18. Tristan da Silva led the Magic off the bench with 14 points, including four 3-pointers.
The Magic led by five after the first 12 minutes, but the Hawks held a 44-29 second-quarter lead to build a 10-point cushion at the break. Orlando responded by outscoring Atlanta 38-27 in the third quarter, including a 17-4 run that regained the lead.
The two teams traded
the lead 22 times, including 11 in the fourth quarter. The Hawks stayed ahead for good behind clutch play from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who scored 11 in the final period, including back-to-back 3s in the final two minutes.
Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 31 points, Jalen Johnson recorded 20 points, 14 rebounds and six assists and Dyson Daniels had 20 points and five steals in their sixth straight win over the Magic. They outscored the Magic 60-50 in the paint and scored 24 points off 20 turnovers.
After falling to the Hawks, the Magic return Friday to host the Minnesota Timberwolves (1-0). The Hawks face the Charlotte Hornets (1-0) on the road Friday.
Here are five observations from the contest:
Turnovers
The Magic committed 13 turnovers in the first half, giving the Hawks 18 points. While they dished out 30 assists and had stellar ball movement at times, the group was affected by the Hawks' length and had several passes picked off or overdribbled into traffic. Several players were also whistled for moving screens.
The group settled down a bit in the second half, including only three turnovers in the third quarter, but its issues flared up again in the final frame at inopportune times. While they couldn't overcome their mistakes, the team believes it can correct them.
"That's the first game: We knew it wasn't going to be perfect," Carter said. "From some of the calls we were making in pick and rolls to some of the schemes we were running on the defensive end, for being out there and being in the mix, I feel like there are some things that we can definitely correct. I'm going to go back and watch the film, but I definitely feel like it is all correctable stuff. It is nothing that can't be fixed."
Said Banchero: "Continue to just build and watch the film tomorrow. I think it just starts with myself and the leaders on the team and really harping on the things that have been killing us and getting it cleaned up."
Paolo Banchero
Banchero played like a former All-Star in a highly efficient contest, going 10-for-12 from the field, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range. He missed his first shot in the second quarter after knocking down his first five, and he wouldn't miss again until late in the third quarter.
The former Rookie of the Year also made 12-for-16 from the free-throw line, which he attributed to his ability to finish through contact at the rim. He was decisive in the paint and played methodically, which stood out to Carter after the game.
"When it is one move or no move, and he is just straight downhill, there are not many guys in this league who can guard him," Carter said. "Our style of play is to allow him to get into the paint quite easily and allow teammates to make decisions on the back end. ... If we continue to feed off him, and he continues to play the way he plays, we're going to be in a really good spot, for sure."
Franz Wagner
Wagner played just eight minutes in the first half after picking up three early fouls, recording seven points. He responded with 15 points in the second half, including 11 in the third quarter, which sparked their run to regain the lead.
With Wagner producing 22 points and Banchero scoring 35 points, it marked the 73rd time in their careers that they both had 20 or more in the same game. They received some offensive help from their teammates, but it is clear the Magic will likely go as far as Wagner and Banchero can take them.
3rd Quarter
After committing several turnovers and defensive lapses in the second quarter, the Magic responded after halftime with their best period of the evening. They managed to go on a run after Johnson was forced to sit after picking up his fourth foul.
They capitalized on the Hawks' foul trouble after getting into the bonus midway through the period, converting 15-for-20 from the charity stripe in the quarter alone. The group also rebounded well and turned the Hawks over six times in the period.
"I think (the third quarter) is one of the areas where we did a good job of sticking together and really putting our minds to what we need to do," Sweeney said. "Any time you see guys respond to something, that is great. Now we just need to do it better."
Defense
The Magic suffered several defensive lapses throughout the game, which is expected in the first game of the season under a new coach. They pointed to missed stops in key situations and letting shooters get open from the 3-point line, particularly in the fourth quarter.
The group will review the film and identify areas for improvement as it heads into its matchup against the Timberwolves on Friday. The team is confident it can fix those issues.
"There is plenty to work on, certainly," Sweeney said. "A lot of correctable things. Defensively, I think we can do a much better job than we did tonight, and we will do a much better job than we did tonight. Both sides of the ball, there is always things to improve upon."
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Magic takeaways vs. Hawks: Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, turnovers and more
